Clutch



July 18, 1950 G. A. coLLENDl-:R

CLUTCH Original Filed Nov. 23 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l @QS/a l/e A. Ca//em/er @M WMM- July 18, 1950 G. A* coLLENDER CLUTCH 2 Sheets-*Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 23, 1945 gwowwto/o GUS/mfc f4. o//e//a/er -al y mf@ @w @Mw Patented `July 18, 1950 CLUTCH Gustave A. Collender, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Six Wheels, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation ofA California originar appiicarionovember 23, 1945, serial No. 630,286. Divided and this application April 21, 194.7, Serial No. 742,921

8 Claims. l

This invention relates to friction clutches of the slipping type. It relates more particularly to automatic mechanisms, that might better be termed clutches of the self-operating or overload type.

The present application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 630,286, filed November 23, 1945, which discloses a complete apparatus in which this invention may be usefully incorporated.

It is the primary object oi' this invention to devise a new and improved friction drive mechanism that is sturdy in construction and reliable and sensitive in operation.

The present invention further includes the object cf providing a conveniently accessible and accurately adjustable device for varying the load that can be transmitted through a friction drive mechanism.

Another important object of my invention resides in the provision, in devices of the character above mentioned, of a chain of spring-actuated levers for multiplying and uniformly transmitting the spring reactions to a frictional coupling.

It is a further objectv to construct an improved transmission shaft arrangement with dual power takeoff units that are differentially rotatable due to incorporation of an automatic slipping clutch.

The foregoing and other objects of my inven tion should become clear from a study of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 represents a cross section, taken vertically and axially of a vehicle jackshaft assem bly embodying-the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view looking axially towards the left hand end of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of line Fig. 2.

Fig. Il is another fragmentary detailed section taken along the plane of line 4 4, Fig. 2.

With continued reference to the drawings, Fig. l shows slightly more than one half of a framework and jackshaft assembly copied, for convenience of illustration, from the drawings of the aforementioned cope-riding application wherein it forms part of a crane undercarriage. It em bodies a vertical propeller shaft 12 journaled in a sleeve 13 which in turn is journaled in a crane bull wheel i4. Laterally outwardly from the bull wheel the support for the jackshaft mechanism is completed by one of the longitudinal side frame members of the vehicle chassis com- 2 prising an I-beam 'l5 reenforced by plates 16 and 11.

The purpose of the disclosed arrangement is to differentially drive a pair of sprocket plates (or gears) 8U, 8l; or, rather, to frictionally drive the plate 8l so that slipping may occur if it becomes overloaded. Chains or other suitable means may be used to transmit power from the plates to a pair of driven units (not shown). The illustrated mechanism for coupling the propeller shaft 'l2 to the plates 80 and 8l is constructed as follows:

A pinion 82 is secured to the lower end of the propeller shaft '12, and meshes with a bevel gear 33 that is keyed at B4 to a sleeve 85 to rotate the latter. A similar sleeve 8E is disposed at the other side of the central plane, but there is no second bevel gear to drive it since it receives its torque through a splined connection with a short shaft 81 which is in splined coupling with the sleeve 85. In all other respects the jackshaft housing assembly partially shown in Fig. 1 is identical at opposite sides of the vertical longitudinal plane that passes through the axis of the propeller shaft 12.

The sleeves 85 and 35 have frame-supported bearings 88, and have integral radial spiders equipped with rings of clutch dogs Si that face laterally outwardly. These dogs on each spider are complemental to a plurality of spaced fingers 92 formed upon and extending radially from a hub 93 that has a peripheral groove 94 for coaction with a conventional clutching and declutching fork (not shown). The hub 93 is slidably splined upon a shaft 95 that is rotatable in framesupported bearings 96 and 91. Each hub 93 may be selectively moved into and out of locking engagement with its adjacent spider 90 by any suitable arrangement of servo-motors and forks such, for example, as disclosed in my ccpending application, Serial No. 567,330, filed December 9, 1944, now abandoned.

Each sprocket plate 8l) is bolted to a heavy sleeve 98 that is in splined connection at one end with its adjacent shaft 95, and that is similarly connected at its other end to a shaft lim to drive the latter. The shaft me has a bearing HM in the region of the reenforced side frame member and projects outwardly therebeyond to drive the sprocket 8l through a differential mechanism about to be described. The bearing li is telescoped in a sleeve |02 that is bolted to the frame structure, as shown. The sleeves 98 and M12 are separated by spacers 03., lllll. The shafts 95 and mi) could be made in one piece, but prefer- -tremity H9. .fdegree-,of lfrictional engagement between the fac- -ings |08, VI I2 and thesprocketplate 8|, subject ably are separate for maximum strength and for convenience of assembly.

With reference now chiefly to Figs. 2 to 4, each shaft is surrounded near its outer end by a hub that is keyed thereto..at|06. The hub has a radial flange |01 disposed slightly inward from its outer end to form a cylindrical seat for the sprocket plate 8|, relative rotation between these parts being possible. The flange is recessed to receive a ilat annular ring |08 formed of clutch lining or any other suitablematerial lthat can be used satisfactorily in a friction clutch. Afioated pressure plate IIII at the opposite face of the sprocket plate is likewise recessed to receive a similar clutch ring, I I2.

Just outward of the plate I IIlfthe shaft y|00 has a reduced portion I I3 surrounded by a sleeve ||4 which is non-rotatable but slidable thereon by virtue of keys III which afford an axial slip t. This sleeve hasfan -integral f radiating -ange II5 which at its rim is provided with a plurality of spaced,v outwardlysfacing bosses ,I'I .which ride :freely and slidably upon a corresponding number 0f pins II'I that are driven into tight Ifitting sockets in the plate H0, as shown. These pins yI |"I, which serve to oat the plate I I0, prefer-ably ralleffivein numbenasalso are the pressure applying instrumentalities presently described, .but .the numbermay vary slightly.

The sleeve I|4-is engaged by a'large washerlike disc II8, which loosely surrounds a greatly reduced and threaded extremity ',I I9 ofthe shaft 4:00; :and this ldisc is retained andpressed against :thesleeve by a nut I20,:screw.ed onto the ex- The nut kis adjustable to vary the Vto;fmodiflcation` and equalization Y of .frictional re- .fsistances caused by other fmechanism,as follows.

Interpcsed at points on -radial `lines -between each adjoining pair of 4pins II'I, therevisfa substantially longer pin I2| having one end standing kin airecessin the plate II-Il, and `its body slidably extending through the flange |1I'5. The latterhas `apluralitybf integral sockets |22, one surrounding each pin 'I2-I concentrically and each housing a'compression spring |23 which, when freely expanded, is of considerably greater length .than .its socket. A flanged bushing |24 is slipped onto the outer end vof each pin |2| yand canbe forced inwardly to compress the adjacent spring |23. The means for urging thesegpins andsprings inwardly and for balancing the .applied forces is constructed as follows.

Adjacent each socket I22,the ange .I5 has an integral -post |25 of such length that it .projects outwardly beyond'the outer ends of the pins |2| These posts are ve in .number and equally spaced apart; and each has a flat sided head pierced laterally to carry a pin |26 upon which is pivotally mounted a lever `'|27 ofsuch length that its ends bridge the space ybetween the two .most'adjacent pins vI2| in-chordal fashion. .Each lever preferably isformedfof heavy sheet metal as by Astamping or pressing to produce a pair vof elongated spacedsidewalls |28, partially joined by an integral body plate |30. The sidewalls receivefthe vends of the pin |26, and at that end closer Ato the pivot they straddle 'and are welded to a vsmall block I3! which .freely contacts the outer end of an adjacent pin I2I. The other ends of the sidewalls diverge Ysomewhat and are lesser in width so that they may be projected under one of the blocks |3| vto straddle the outer.

end of a pin |2| and slidably engage the outer 4 side of that bushing |24 which surrounds said pm.

Thus there are five of the -pressure applying and equalizing devices comprising the chordally arranged `lever `units |21, with one end of each reacting, positively against thepressure plate I I0, through a pin |2I, and the other end acting upon fsaid plate through a resilient compression spring |23. The action of each spring is multiplied 4about ve times, as can be seen from the relative lengths of the arms into which each lever |21 isdivided by its pivot pin |26. The forces thus .exerted by the (pins I2| upon the plate IIO are equallzed and cause the plate to apply well balanced pressure against the friction rings |08, I2, so .thatthere can be no localized or excessive wear of the latter.

The 4nut |20 affords ready adjustment to select a desired pressure and to compensate for wear.

This nut could be replaced or augmented by -means under constantly variable control of an "operatorto :convert 4the automatic drive into .a

`manual clutch.

The functioning of the apparatus and its sub- -com'binations Yshould befclear from the foregoing vrunning description. .chiefly or essentially in lthe 'friction drive unit The invention resides seen in Figs. 2 to .4, wherein the forces exerted on the plate 8| are accurately equalized and-constantly well balanced, and wherein adjustments can'be made quickly and conveniently.

Obviously, .numerous variations in design may be made without departing from the spirit of jthe invention and, therefore, I-Wish tovbe limited -only by a `reasonably liberal interpretation ofthe rality vof pins slidable through said element and parallel to the operational axis ofthe mechanism, each pin khaving one end in abutment with said plate and its other end surrounded by a compressible resilient member, means on said shaft for holding said element in proper relationship to the other parts, and means 'mounted on said element for compressing said resilient members.

2. In the combination dened in claim '1,'said pins being spaced apart clrcumferentially adjacent vthe perimeter of said platelike element, and said compressing means comprising a set of levers corresponding in number to said pins, said levers arranged in Vchordal fashion and pivotally connected between their ends vto said vplatelike element. each lever having one end positively engaged with -a pin and its other end engaged with the resilient member that surrounds the next adjacent pin of the series of the pins.

3. In a frictional drive mechanism, in subcombination, a pressure applying unit comprising a friction plate and a platelike element coaxially arranged in spaced and parallel relationship, said element having a vplurality of apertures parallel to its axis and arranged radially-outwardly therefrom in series, a corresponding number of pins extending freely through said apertures with their inner ends in engagement with said friction plate, compressible resilient units freely surrounding the outer ends of at least some of said pins, and a plurality of levers pivotally connected to said platelike element between their ends, each lever having one end engaged with one of said pins and its other end engaged with one of said resilient units.

4. In the mechanism defined in claim 3, the pivotal connections 0f saidl levers being considerably closer to their ends that engage the pins than to their ends that engage said resilient units.

5. In the mechanism described in claim 3, said pins having their inner endsanchored in said friction element, and said resilient units comprising metal compression springs.

6. In the mechanism set forth in claim 3, said pins arranged in a substantially circular series, and said levers arranged in chordal fashion to form a multi-sided ring.

7. In the mechanism of claim 3, said pins comprising five equally spaced elements adjacent thev perimeter of said platelike element and each surrounded by one of said compression units, and said levers being ilve in number with each individually bridging the space betweena pair of said spaced elements.

8. A slipping frictional clutch of the class described, comprising a rotatable shaft, a collar secured to said shaft to rotate therewith, a flat wheel rotatably surrounding said shaft and designed to be Icoupled to said collar for power transmission, a plate surrounding said shaft on the opposite side of said Wheel from said collar, rings of frictional material carried by said collar and said plate to face the side surfaces of said wheel, and mechanism mounted upon said shaft to constantly force said plate towards said collar and thus tend to maintain a driving connection between said wheel and said shaft, said mechanism comprising a sleeve slidable on said shaft and having a radial flange adjacent said plate, a plurality of spaced pins slidable through said flange, compression springs surrounding said pins and confined by bushings slidably mounted on the free ends of said pins, a corresponding plurality of levers, each pivoted between its ends upon said flange and having its ends in contact, respectively, with the head of one pin and the bushing carried by an adjacent pin, and means mounted upon said shaft and engaging said sleeve positively limiting movement of said sleeve in a direction away from said plate.

GUSTAVE A. COLLENDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,195,286 Snyder Aug. 22, 1916 1,355,537 Chaloupka Oct. 12, 1920 1,838,951 Holland Nov. 22, 1932 2,003,766 Zwicky June 4, 1935 2,117,486 Lewellen et al. May 17, 1938 2,292,210 Santro et a1 Aug. 4, 1942 2,323,404 Kuchar July 6, 1943 2,333,553 Potgieter et al Nov. 2, 1943 

